Bonkers Blog September 2015

The last time Bexley council was seriously involved in discussions with the Boundaries Commission was when
the ruling Tories thought it would be a good idea
to lend left leaning Erith & Thamesmead some parliamentary votes from true
blue Sidcup which has a strong enough Conservative majority to be able to spare
them. Then to balance up the numbers, some Erith votes could be shunted into
Bexleyheath and Crayford, but not enough to push that right leaning constituency into Labour’s hands.

I loved some of their justifications for that ruse. The best must have been that Erith and Welling both
produced arms during the First World War.

Shuffling votes around in that way was a very cunning trick, immoral but clever, but unfortunately for the ruling
clique the Boundaries Commission saw right through it.

Now it’s council ward territories that are under discussion. As a compromise
between the existing 63 wards and the threatened 18, Bexley’s councillors have
united behind a figure of 45.